Hog-trap.



- Patented Sept. 18, I900. H. N. SMITH.

HUG TRAP.

filed June 27, 1900.

(Application (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY N. SMITH, OF DEER CREEK, ILLINOIS.

HOG-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 658,128, dated September 18, 1900.

Application filed June 27, 1900. Serial No. 21,805. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY N. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Deer Creek, in the county of Tazewell and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Hog-Trap, of which the following is a specification.-

The invention relates to improvements in hog-traps.

The object of the present invent-ion is to improve the construction of hog-traps and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient device for clamping a hog to hold the same while it is being operated on and capable of ready adjustment to suit the size of the animal and of being quickly operated to clamp and release them.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a hog-trap constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view, partly in elevation.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in both figures of the drawlugs.

l designates the sides of a hog trap or chute, and the front thereof consists of a frame and the clamping devices hereinafter described, the frame being composed of vertical side bars 2 and 3 and upper and lower top and bottom bars 4 and 5, arranged in pairs and forming ways for clamping-levers 6 and 7. The sides may be constructed in any suitable manner and the front frame and the clamping' devices may be employed in connection with any suitable structure adapted to serve as a trap or chute. The upper and lower bars 4 and 5 are spaced apart by being socured to the inner and outer faces of the vertical side bars 2 and 3, and the lever 6 has its lower end f ulcrumed between the bottom side bars on a bolt 8 or other suitable fastening device. The lever 7, which cooperates with the lever 6, extends-above the top of the frame and is loosely arranged between the top and bottom bars, being provided with a transverse pin 9, located near its lower end and resting upon the upper edges of the bottom bars. The lower portion of the lever is held against outward movement by means of a ratchet 10, consisting of a yoke, receiving the side bar 3 and projecting outward thereis retained in engagement with the pin by means of a pivoted locking device 14:, located above the yoke and provided with a bottom flange 15, adapted to extend across the space between the sides of the yoke, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. When it is desired to adjust the lever, the pivoted locking device is swung upward, and the yoke,

which may be then lifted out of engagement with the pin 13, serves as a handle for moving the lower end of the lever 7 inward and outward. After the-lever 7 has been adj usted the device is operated by means ofa bar 16, provided at its outer end with a handle or grip 17 and pivoted at its inner end by a bolt or other suitable fastening device to the lever 7. The operating-bar passes through and is supported by a keeper 19, and it is provided at its lower edge with a series of teeth 20, forming a ratchet and adapted to engage the keeper.

The clamping-levers are connected with each other and caused to move simultaneously inward and outward by means of an intermediate lever 2l,fulcrumed between its ends on the top of theframe and extending above and below the top bars. The lever 21 consists of a thin bar perforated for the reception ofa pivot 22 and supported by a block 23, and the ends of the intermediate lever are connected with the levers 6 and 7 by links 24 and 25. The clamping-levers are adapted to be quickly operating by movingthe operating-bar inward and outward, and they are firmly locked in engagement with the animal by the operating-bar.

It will be seen that the hog-trap is exceedingly simple andinexpensive in construction,

t-hatit is capable of ready adjustment to adapt it to the size of the animals to be operated on, and that the clamping-levers may be quickly engaged with and disengaged from an animal.

What is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame, the lever 6 fulcru med thereon atits lower end, the adjustable clamping-lever 7, loosely supported in the frame, a ratchet-yoke receiving the frame and pivoted to the lower portion of the lever 7 and forming a fulcrum for the latter, an operating-bar pivotally connected with the upper portion of the lever 7 and provided with a ratchet for looking it against outward movement, and the lever 21 fulcrumed between its ends on the frame at a point between the upper ends of the levers 6 and 7, and connected with the same to cause thelevers to move inward and outward simultaneously, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frame provided with upper and lower horizontal bars arranged in pairs and forming guides, the lever 6 arranged between the upper and lower bars and fulcrumed at its lower end at the bottom of the frame, the adjustable clamping-lever 7 arranged in the guides formed by the horizontal bars and having its lower end loosely arranged between the lower ones and provided with a projection or pin resting upon the up per edges of the lower bars of the frame, the ratchet-yoke connected with the lower portion of the lever 7 and embracing a portion of the frame and engaging a projection thereof, the pivoted locking device mounted on the frame and engaging the ratchet-yoke, a ratchet device connected with the upper portion of the lever 7 for holding the latter in its engaging position, and the lever 21 fulcrumed between itsends on the upper portion of the frame at a point between the le Vers 6 and 7 and connected with the latter to move the same inward and outward simultaneously, substantially described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY N. SMI'III. Vitnesses:

W. H. PIFER, HARRY E. SMALL. 

